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Dr Marion Lyons, of Public Health Wales, says a death in Swansea would not be a surprise
A death is being investigated as part of the measles epidemic in Swansea.
Public Health Wales (PHW) is looking into the death of a 25-year-old man, named locally as Gareth Williams, at a flat in the city.
South Wales Police said it is "sudden and unexplained" and PHW says the diagnosis of measles has not yet been confirmed.
Testing for measles is "forming part of the investigations being overseen by the coroner," said PHW.
"Start Quote
End Quote Dr Marion Lyons Public Health WalesWhatever the cause of death in this case, we should not be surprised if, as the outbreak grows, we start to see deaths in Wales"
"Whatever the cause of death in this case we should not be surprised if, as the outbreak grows, we start to see deaths in Wales," said Dr Marion Lyons, PHW's director of health protection.
Mr Williams' body was discovered in a flat at Port Tennant Road, Swansea at about 08:15 BST on Thursday.
His death is not being treated as suspicious.
Dr Lyons said: "Public Health Wales is aware of a death being investigated by the Swansea coroner. A diagnosis of measles has not yet been confirmed.
"Testing the deceased for measles is forming part of the investigations being overseen by the coroner.
Analysis
James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News
Between one in 1,000 and one in 3,000 people infected with measles will die.
Globally it is one of the leading causes of death in children.
Like many childhood diseases, it is worse when adults are infected as the risks of complications are higher.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine give near total protection against the disease.
But confidence in the vaccine dived after, now discredited, claims of a link with autism by Andrew Wakefield a decade ago.
Experts believe the MMR scare has left more than a million school children vulnerable to the infection.
Many people now have no recollection of measles epidemics in the UK. A link with measles has not been confirmed in this death, but it still acts as a warning of how rampant and deadly the disease can be.
"My sympathies are with the family at such a tragic time."
'Disappointing'There have been 808 cases of measles confirmed so far in the Swansea epidemic, which also includes the neighbouring Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend areas, and further into mid and west Wales.
MMR jabs are being offered in schools from this week in parts of mid and south Wales although initial take-up was said to be "disappointing" by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board.
There will also be drop-in sessions for the third Saturday in a row at Morriston and Singleton Hospitals in Swansea, the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot Hospital.
Last weekend around 2,500 people received the MMR vaccination at special clinics held across south Wales.
PHW said although the outbreak was at present affecting the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Powys and Hywel Dda health board areas, there were cases of measles in every health board area in Wales.
On Friday, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north Wales urged parents to get their children vaccinated, reminding people of an outbreak in Porthmadog which resulted in more than 60 people contracting measles in 2012.
Dr Lyons added: "Measles is a potentially fatal disease and around one in every 1,000 people who contracts measles in developed countries will die.
"We continue to work to end the current outbreak of measles, which is centred on the Swansea area, and which has now passed 800 cases.
"Those not fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR are highly likely to catch measles, which is highly contagious.
"We know that there are unprotected people in all age groups but we have particular concerns about the 10 to 18 age group.
"We are therefore urging all parents of children who have missed doses of MMR to arrange vaccination for them as a matter of urgency."
Symptoms of measles include fever, cold-like symptoms, fatigue, conjunctivitis and a distinctive red-brown rash that appears a few days into the illness.
Measles cases in mid and west Wales | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health board/area | Nov 2012 | Dec | Jan 2013 | Feb | Mar | April | Total |
| Notifications 1 Nov 2012 to *12:00 BST 17 April 2013. Source: Public Health Wales | |||||||
| Abertawe Bro Morgannwg HB | 15 | 37 | 39 | 66 | 238 | 251 | 646 |
| Bridgend | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 30 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 5 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 85 | 152 |
| Swansea | 10 | 27 | 34 | 59 | 183 | 151 | 464 |
| Hywel Dda HB | 17 | 24 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 18 | 90 |
| Powys HB | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 31 | 72 |
| Total | 34 | 61 | 50 | 75 | 288 | 300 | 808 |
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